Montana Columbia sheep producers hosted their 60th annual show and sale on August 26 in Lewistown, Montana. The event featured a wool show, competitive classes for registered Columbia sheep, junior classes, hot lunch prepared and served by 4-H club members, an educational presentation about management strategies for control of sheep parasites, a benefit fund raiser, Youth Starter Flock awards, and a lively sale of both registered and range rams and registered and commercial ewes.

David Brown, Columbia sheep breeder and Executive Secretary of North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association, judged the show. The following are his top two choices in each class.

Youth Starter Flocks were awarded to three new junior members: Faith Gasvoda of Big Sandy, Maclay Harris of Conrad, and Jordan Leach of Ledger. Each recipient received four donated ewes and/or ewe lambs and will be guided by an adult member of Columbia Sheep Breeders Association of Montana.

Mary Langhus won the handmade gold and silver-plated trophy buckle that was donated by David Brown. Her final bid of $1,050 will be donated to eastern Montana agricultural producers impacted by the Lodgepole Complex wildfire.

Sale results are as follows:

Ten registered yearling rams sold for an average of $545, four ram lambs brought an average of $500, and three yearling range rams averaged $567. The four highest-selling rams, topping the sale at $650, were Klick’s Grand Champion Ram, Langhus’s registered yearling, Gibbs’ 1st place ram lamb, and a Blackman range ram. Nine registered yearling ewes sold for an average of $247, seven ewe lambs brought an average of $232; seven commercial yearling ewes averaged $250.